By Admin 
Auqib Nabi has cast a spell over many batters in India’s domestic circuit recently. At the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, it was Delhi’s turn to bear the brunt of the swing bowler’s shrewd skills.
The 29-year-old from Baramulla claimed five for 35 on day one of the Elite Group-D Ranji Trophy clash as Jammu & Kashmir bundled out the host for 211. It was the medium-pacer’s third five-wicket haul of the 2025-26 Ranji season and took his tally in this campaign to 24 in four matches.
The contest, however, was delicately poised at stumps. Simarjeet Singh struck thrice for Delhi in his opening burst, leaving J&K in a spot of bother at 31 for three.
At the start of the day, Nabi’s probing line outside off-stump caught Arpit Rana’s outside edge to second slip. Yash Dhull had to walk back when he was given out caught behind off Sunil Kumar’s left-arm medium-pace.
With the in-form Sanat Sangwan flicking left-arm spinner Vanshaj Sharma to midwicket in the 10th over, Delhi was in serious strife at 14 for three. For the rest of the morning session, Ayush Badoni and Ayush Doseja restored calm in their dressing room with a partnership of 104 runs. The skipper was his busy self at the crease, hitting six boundaries in a contribution of 64.
Delhi captain Ayush Badoni in action against Jammu and Kashmir on day one of their Ranji Trophy match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday. November 8, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
The lunch interval perhaps came at just the right time for Paras Dogra’s outfit. In the second over after resumption, Vanshaj managed to trap Badoni leg-before.
Doseja and Sumit Mathur went on to make half-centuries, but the former’s dismissal in the 60th over triggered a collapse as Delhi lost its last five wickets for 29 runs. Mathur was stranded on 55.
Delhi’s Sumit Mathur plays a shot against Jammu and Kashmir on day one of their Ranji Trophy match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday. November 8, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
Nabi inflicted severe damage with the old ball. He induced nicks from Anuj Rawat and Hrithik Shokeen, and pinned debutant Manan Bhardwaj on the toe with a reverse-swinging yorker.
The scores: Delhi — 1st innings: Arpit Rana c Samad b Nabi 0, Sanat Sangwan c Khajuria b Vanshaj 12, Yash Dhull c Wadhawan b Sunil 1, Ayush Badoni lbw b Vanshaj 64, Ayush Doseja lbw b Mushtaq 65, Sumit Mathur (not out) 55, Anuj Rawat c Samad b Nabi 0, Hrithik Shokeen c Wadhawan b Nabi 7, Manan Bhardwaj lbw b Nabi 0, Simarjeet Singh lbw b Mushtaq 0, Money Grewal c Samad b Nabi 0; Extras (b-4, lb-3): 7; Total (in 69 overs): 211.
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-13, 3-14, 4-118, 5-182, 6-187, 7-195, 8-195, 9-206.
J&K bowling: Nabi 16-5-35-5, Sunil 8-2-29-1, Vanshaj 20-3-57-2, Mushtaq 9-1-30-2, Lotra 16-4-53-0.
Delhi bowler Simarjeet Singh in action against Jammu and Kashmir on day one of their Ranji Trophy match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday.
| Photo Credit:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
Jammu & Kashmir — 1st innings: Qamran Iqbal c Sangwan b Simarjeet 14, Shubham Khajuria c Doseja b Simarjeet 4, Vivrant Sharma (batting) 10, Sunil Kumar b Simarjeet 1, Paras Dogra (batting) 2; Total (for three wickets. in 13 overs): 31.
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-27, 3-29.
Delhi bowling: Grewal 5-2-12-0, Simarjeet 6-1-14-3, Bhardwaj 2-0-5-0.